María PachecoMaría Pacheco (c.1496 – March 1531) was a 16th-century Spanish
warrior of the House of Mendoza. She was born in Granada, the daughter
of
Íñigo López de Mendoza y QuiñonesÍñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones and Francisca Pacheco.
When her husband, the chief comunero Juan López de Padilla, was
captured and killed in the battle of Villalar in 1521, she took
command in his name and successfully lead the defence of the city of
Toledo against the royalist forces until the arrangement of a peaceful
surrender of the city six months later.
Pacheco managed to escape to Portugal, and lived in
OportoOporto till her
death, in March 1531, aged about 35. She was buried in Oporto
Cathedral.
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